NOVEMBER 2010

What a big lapse of time!
Most of August, I spent taking my six year old granddaughter, Awen, on various visits to interesting Anglesey sites. This is one I took of her by Tŷ Newydd Cromlech, Llanfaelog.



To my disappointment, things have really been on a back burner as far as producing the replicas. This is due to the fact that The Friends of The Oriel decided to fold up. All the funding that I’d collected under their title was then passed on to the Oriel itself.

Pat West, the Principal, has put it in an account called Llyn Cerrig Bach and thankfully has ring fenced it. However, Pat is a busy person and finds it very hard to slot time to get the replicas made. She has promised that come the new year she will get their production in motion.
Our diving friends from the States came over in September. They phoned me to say that their time was so limited, that they wouldn’t be diving in Llyn Cerrig Bach this year. They had been called to an important meeting in London with the National Geographical Society.



Alan and I paid our usual visit to the National museum whilst in Cardiff. We were given such a warm and enthusiastic welcome by three of the most prominent staff in the archaeology department, namely Adam Gwilt, Curator - Later Prehistory, Mark Lodwick, Portable Antiquities Finds Co-ordinator and Tony Daly, Archaeology Department Illustrator. We spent a good hour together discussing various queries on aspects I needed guidance on regarding my present involvement with Llyn Cerrig Bach.



Tony Daly then invited Alan and myself to his graphics studio and showed us various techniques he used to produce his illustrations. Alan, being an artist in his leisure time, was enthralled with it all. Before I left, he presented me with a complete set of the drawings he made of Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts ( A2 sheets ). He also gave me a copy on my memory stick of his depiction of a votive ceremony taking place on the banks of Llyn Cerrig Bach,for me to include in my future Powerpoint presentations. (This has gradually climbed to 105 slides by now. Thankfully, I have a shorter version for schools!)

Another good friend, Ken Brassil, the museum Education Officer then appeared with a group of school children. He is a font of knowledge on the history of Llyn Cerrig Bach and I have been observing him working with various Anglesey schools, as you will note from my previous blog entries. He also appears on the DVD “Megalithic Anglesey” explaining the significance of the find, whilst leaning on a cabinet full of artefacts from the lake. These are on display at the Origins exhibition in the museum.

( Forgive the large text and left aligment. I failed completely to locate any Font or Centre icon this time sorry!)

JULY 2010

Just before our U3A summer recession we went on a visit to Parys mountain, Amlwch. Our guide for the day was Alan Kelly, a good friend of mine since a few years now. It was great meeting up again, although we’ve been keeping in touch frequently by e-mail. Alan gave us an interesting insight into the history of Parys mountain followed by a visit to Amlwch Port Heritage Centre. Everyone enjoyed the humorous anecdotes that Alan introduced frequently to enhance the facts. As you can see from the picture we share the same sense of humour.




Our final visit was up Snowdon by train. The visibility was excellent at the summit and everyone admired the new café, Hafod Eryri. It really has blended well into the surrounding vista. It reminded me very much of the one I’d been to at Cape Point in South Africa during the time I stayed with my cousin Eric. The view is of the famous Crib Goch and with my friend Shirley on the summit.



For the last three weeks there has been an exciting archaeological excavation been happening on Anglesey, led by Dave Hopewell and George Smith from GAT. An earlier geophysical survey made revealed an extensive Roman settlement on Tai Cochion land near the Menai Straits. This would probably have had connection with the Roman Fort of Segontium over by Caernarfon. A team of volunteers, including my son in law Dominic helped each day. Boundary walls and a ditch were excavated Amongst the finds they unearthed were coins, and an accumulation of different parts of pottery, including a dated one from AD 140 – 160. Also various animal bones and part of a Roman broach. A filming crew from S4C came on site to make a documentary which will be shown in the Autumn.



On their final day last Saturday, they held a public open day. Alan and myself took my cousin Ken with us. ( Dr.Ken ) He is a very highly respected local historian and having been an orthopaedic consultant, is able to identify any bones brought up on various sites over the years. It was very pleasing to see such a large attendance of interested people in our history and heritage.

View also Tai Cochion dig blog

JUNE 2010

Last Thursday, I was invited to give my presentation on Llyn Cerrig Bach to the members of the Holyhead Probus. I had a great welcome being the only woman amongst 35 men. Some of them were friends which I had not met since our time in Holyhead Grammer school 60 years ago! So there was a lot of hugging and kissing going on! My only disappointment was that my cousin, Dr.Ken wasn’t able to attend, due to a bout of ill-health. He had been looking forward to introducing me officially before the talk. He had asked me to show first a photo of us both on Rhosneigr beach when we were about two years old!



The Anglesey Walking Festival started on May 29th. and I was Walk 21.I have agreed to do this for Menter Môn for five consecutive years by now.. It was arranged that I met the walkers first by Llyn Cerrig Bach to give them an insight into the history of how my father came to a decision to dredge the lakes and bogs around Llyn Cerrig Bach in 1943, resulting in the incredible find of the Iron age artefacts. The picture has been taken of them admiring the replica gang chain in the boot of my car It is much too heavy to handle, especially for children. This is why I want to have a lighter one produced, along with five other replicas.

We then continued the walk into the RSPB reserve with Ian Simms, the warden. We were all able to observe a great variety of birds through Ian’s strong telescopic lenses. The weather was absolutely glorious.

Managed to click the wrong key again before I'd finished!

It is lovely coming back home to Anglesey although its very cold. However, it has been so sunny that I have spent a lot of time walking my daughter’s dogs around the nearby Llyn Maelog.




The Anglesey Walking Festival starts on May 29th. and I shall be giving a talk on site at Llyn Cerrig Bach (NGR SH / 303765 ) about the Iron Age artefacts found there. Car park grid ref. NGR SH 312 763. Maybe I shall see some of you there?

Another lapse of entry! This is due to the fact that lucky me has been with Alan, my husband, on a three week Classical Music Festival cruise along the Med.and the Adriatic. Richard Baker introduced all the concerts and surprisingly to all, sang and played the piano. He had a wonderful sense of humour. We were blessed with lovely sunshine every day and also to spend two full days in Venice.

I noticed in the Daily Post that the hologram which I knew was being produced, has been completed and on display at Llangollen Museum. It is a travelling exhibition and will make its way Oriel Môn in due course.


The imaging technique was developed by Professor Hans Bjelkhagan of Glyndwr University in Wrexham. Prof Bjelkhagan has been working on the new technique for
15 years and said Wales was the first country in the world to use this technology.
He states - "We freeze the light as it comes from the object, so we actually capture the light coming from the object which can then regenerate the object as if it was still there”. The technique uses three lasers, in red, blue and green, which are then combined into one white light.

Oriel Ynys Môn - Tomb Builders 4,000 - 3,000BC

Following our visit to Ysgol y Graig in the morning, for our afternoon session, I had organised a visit for the group to Oriel Ynys Môn. This was in order for them to have the opportunity to view the special exhibition that was on tour from The National Museum in Cardiff called “The Tomb Builders of Wales 4,000 – 3,000 BC”

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I had invited Mr. George Smith from the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust to give us the introductory talk. Pat West, the Oriel’s Principal, made an appeal to our age group for any memorabilia or written memories they could provide about their life on Anglesey during the Second World War years. These will be included in the Oriel’s next exhibition “Anglesey 1939 -1945 “ that begins on July 3rd.



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In one corner of the History Gallery are the original artefacts that I have loaned to the Oriel for its lifetime. These had been given originally by my father to the Wigwam Museum in Rhosneigr and then returned to the family when Miss Manning, the curator died. For many years they laid in a biscuit tin at the bottom of my wardrobe before I realised their significance!

I have been a member of the Anglesey Ynys Môn U3A 9 University of the Third Age ) for the last 14 years. This is a society for retired people who wish to keep learning for pleasure. During that period I have given numerous presentations and also organised visits to interesting sites. By now, I hardly think that there isn’t a mansion house on Anglesey that we haven’t visited, also historical churches, archaeological sites and small businesses on our island.

Today’s visit was to a completely different venue. We visited a newly built primary school in Llangefni. Ysgol y Graig is an entirely eco-friendly school.

The school has been built from sustainable timber and local stone. It includes a host of energy saving features, including solar photovoltaic roof tiles, a wind turbine and a green seeded roof, which provides a natural habitat for plants and insects.

The architects also designed the school with skylights that flood the classrooms and corridors
with daylight, cutting lighting bills. They also specified super-thick, highly insulated exterior
walls, solid wood window frames and thick window glass to reduce heat loss.

All internal lighting is provided by movement activated energy-efficient lamps. It is estimated that the power generated by the photovoltaic roof tiles and the wind turbine will reduce the school's power requirement by approx. 45%, based on average consumption. All excess energy produced during school closure days is directed to the National Grid, which they in turn pay the school for, thus generating funds.
Also all the latest technological equipment has been implemented thus creating a model school of the future. Throughout their time in school, pupils to learn to understand how their environment is being regulated by eco-friendly materials, and solar powered lighting, heating and ventilation. Their understanding of this knowledge, they will take with them into their adulthood.

I had thirty U3A members in all who attended and we were warmly welcomed by the acting Head, Mrs Eiriannwen Williams. Mr. Owain Gwilym, the Deputy Head then showed us an explanatory presentation about the school and answered the many enquiring questions from a captive audience.

March 22nd. 2010

I was invited to visit Morswyn Primary School in Holyhead on the 8^th.of this month to give a talk on Llyn Cerrig Bach to the older children. This is a Welsh medium school. Luckily, when I was invited to Bethesda Historical Society last year, I had prepared my Powerpoint in Welsh then, as time was a premium this month for me.

The children were studying the Celts and had produced a variety of excellent project books. They asked well-prepared sensible questions in an orderly manner. It was really a pleasure for me to be back again in a school environment. Naturally, they enjoyed handling the large replica gang chain which I had borrowed from Oriel Ynys Môn.

Sadly, I won’t have the access to this for very long again, as it is needed for a permanent display that is to be set up in the History Gallery alongside the three original artefacts which have been on loan to the Oriel from me for the last fifteen years. Hopefully, very soon, the replica of the lighter gang chain will have been produced for transit educational purposes by then.

Here is a picture of me examining the lighter gang chain with Evan Chapman in the research lab. of the National Museum Cardiff last summer.

FEBRUARY 2010

Here I am again, writing for February, having missed a month !

During February, I decided to put into print, the story of my life and got as far as the age of 22. This is mainly for the benefit of my children and grandchildren so that they can have an insight into how it was when I was I was growing up during the war. It has been quite time consuming, but the family are very appreciative of what I have achieved. I have tried to include photographs on each page and a few anecdotes here and there. I also went to our local Archive office in Llangefni and gleaned a wealth of info. from Rhosneigr Primary School Log book, where I was a pupil.

It has certainly been a worthwhile activity to get engrossed in during the very cold weather. I was lucky not to have to go out and battle the elements like the younger generations in my family –one of the many benefits of being retired!

This is a picture of my cousin, Ken and myself, with out Aunty Vera and Susie, the dog, at our grandparents' house, Cae Gwyn, Llanfaelog around 1938. I hope I didn't managed to strangle the cat whilst I was so engrossed in what Ken was studing!

Rhosneigr Primary School 1947.

We were well trained in those days - feet and arms crossed front row, other rows, hands behind your backs, including the Headmaster Mr.Ifor.H.Roberts!

I am centre front, with Cassie, my best friend in childhood to the left.

( each row – read left to right, starting at the top )

Idwal Parry, Gwyfa. Llanfaelog. Gordon Owen, Galtymor, Rehoboth. Raymond Morris, The Bungalow, Llanfaelog. Henry Roberts, Crossing.

Hywel Williams, Trewyn Bach. Griffith Roberts, Station House. Tommy Rowlands,

Ynys Fôr, High St. Rhosneigr.

David Owen, Bodelwa. Tŷ Croes. Iola Price, Hafodol. Pat Pritchard. Hillcrest. Marie Burgess, Dune Edge Warren Rd. Dilys Creely, Lucerne, Station Rd. Enid Rees, Penmorfa. John Jenkins, Crafnant – all from Rhosneigr

Glenys Morris, Bronallt. Mair Lewis, Tŷ Mawr. Cassie Thomas, 10 Rehoboth Terrace.

Evelyn Roberts, 5 Rehoboth Terrace, Beryl Williams, Rockfield, Rehoboth. Ann Owen, Bodelwa. Betty Parry, Gwyfa. – all from Llanfaelog area.

A year ago, I did produce a similar folder for Rhosneigr Primary School's centenary, about my childhood during the war. Rhosneigr school has been given a copy as has The Holyhead Maritime Museum for their Air Raid Shelter, also Oriel Ynys Môn. My copy will be on display and for perusal in Oriel Ynys Môn at their next exhibition, from 3 July - 24 Decemberunder the title of " Anglesey 1939 -1945.

As you can see, I've been much to busy printing all these, so haven't had time to write a blog also - excuse again!.

P.S January 2010

Forgot to mention, last week I had a visit from Graham and Pauline to say that Deeptrek will be returning to Llyn Cerrig Bach in March, bringing with them more sophisticated diving equipment.
I shall be looking forward to meeting them again at the lake and spending time observing once more.

Managed to buy an Interim Report 1945 edition on Llyn Cerrig Bach, signed by Sir Cyril Fox for £9 on e-bay!

January 2010

This week the press jumped on the fact that someone had said that Anglesey wanted all the Llyn Cerrig Bach artefacts back permanently in Oriel Ynys Môn from the National Museum in Cardiff. Their reasoning for this was because an expansive gallery, with the required safety and humidity conditions, had been built there for the Kyffin Williams Art collection.

I was approached by both press and the Welsh radio, as to whether I agreed with this statement. I explained that having worked closely for years with Oriel Mon principal and the staff of the Archaeology department at the National Museum, I am aware of how the items needed to be on display at our National Museum as people even from around the world.

However, I am fully in support in having part of the collection sent here on display, as they have done so over a number of years. Alun Gruffydd and myself negotiated for a large display to come up for the millennium. It is now up to the present principal to organise a display to fit in with her planned programme. I have suggested for a number of years that it would be a good idea in having displays perhaps on a rotation basis.

The most important endeavour for me at the moment, is to get the remaining funding required to produce the handling collection of the main items of the artefacts. They would be so beneficial for Ynys Môn school children. I have already been promised personally 50% of the necessary £7,600 and have an application under consideration by Medrwn Môn for the other half. I await their decision daily! When I finally have the money, then Pat West, the present Oriel Principal and I will work together to make sure that everything is produced to the highest standard. There will be an information pack produced to accompany the replicas.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi i gyd
Happy New year to you all.

During the months before Christmas, I've been striving hard to raise funding in order to produce replicas of the most significant items in the Llyn Cerrig Bach collrction. Having again been to another school and out in the community giving talks on the finds, I have become really passionate about providing replicas that both children and adults can handle for examination.
Having already had positive replies to my request for donations, I found myself in a position to apply for the remainder of the funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This involved getting quotes that matched in content from three different sculptors, six letters of support and an explanation from myself why I thought it was a viable project. There were also numerous pages to fill in on the application form.

Having thought that they would be taking into consideration all the various work and research I'd been involved with, especially with the schools, I was then told that they would count for nothing and that I would have to start a project plan of the work I intended doing in the forseeable future. This meant filling in various planning columns etc. I realised this was going to be a long term plan over at least one year if not more.

Thankfully, I have found that I can apply for another funding locally, who do take all my previous projects into consideration.

This meant filling in a different application form, not as long as the Heritage one and all the other paperwork I'd collected applied to this one the same. I managed to get it all finished on Dec.16th. just before the closing date and had it delivered by hand just incase with the Christmas post.

You can appreciate therefore why I've had no time to do any blogging recently, especially with writing all my Christmas cards as well!

My New Year resolution is to try and blog more often therefore.